February Rural Mainstreet Index Falls Below Growth Neutral

The overall Rural Mainstreet Index dropped below a growth-neutral level of 50.0 for February.  The overall reading fell from 52.0 in January to 47.9 this month.  This marks the 12th time that the index has dropped below growth-neutral since January 2025.

“Due to weakness in the farm economy, especially for grain, about 75% of bankers support additional Congressional financial support for the agriculture sector,” said survey author Ernie Goss of Creighton University. “They said pullbacks in farm exports during 2025 continue to undermine the regional farm economy.”

The February survey showed farm loan delinquency rates plateauing at a modest rate of less than 1.5%.  The Farm and Ranchland Price Index also fell below growth neutral at 45.5.

The overall index ranges from 0 to 100, with growth neutral at 50.0.

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